TOKYO –
Japan’s oldest document firm is popping to synthetic intelligence to reshape one of many nation’s most conventional musical genres, unveiling an AI-generated enka singer as a part of a brand new label combining the expertise with the distinctive vocal model of Japanese ballads.
The singer, named Kodama Hikari, options each a voice and visible look created totally utilizing AI. Her performances embody the sustained vocals and distinctive “kobushi” melodic ornamentation which can be hallmarks of enka music.
Nippon Columbia, Japan’s oldest document firm, introduced on September 19 that it’s launching a brand new label referred to as Neo Kobushi, bringing collectively enka and synthetic intelligence.
The firm additionally plans to launch songs that use AI within the lyric-writing and composition course of, increasing the expertise’s position past the creation of performers.
The mission’s producer mentioned enka must be keen to experiment extra boldly with new concepts and expertise.
“Enka can afford to do more outrageous things,” the producer mentioned. “If it is going to survive for another 100 years, it should encounter new technologies and other new influences.”